Letter: Revisit standards for wind energy

Saturday

This week, Amazon announced that it will power its three Ohio data centers with an additional 189 megawatts of wind power ("Amazon to build second wind farm in Ohio," Dispatch.com article, Nov. 1).

This week, Amazon announced that it will power its three Ohio data centers with an additional 189 megawatts of wind power (“Amazon to build second wind farm in Ohio,” Dispatch.com article, Nov. 1). This project was developed in Hardin County and approved before current setback laws were enacted that increased the distance a wind turbine could be sited from existing structures.

This same project could not be developed today because of the restrictive setback rules. This, along with the “frozen” renewable portfolio standard (RPS), needs to be changed by Ohio policymakers. Ohio needs a defined energy policy, one that will promote advanced energy such as solar, wind, storage and energy efficiency.

Wind and solar projects, both large and small, have the power to bring in millions of dollars in investments, create jobs, and provide additional revenue for county schools and hospitals. These are a few of the positive benefits that go along with these advanced energy developments.

Fortune 500 companies across the nation are actively seeking to buy more clean energy, and some states are obliging their requests. Yet, the current wind setback law and frozen RPS standards have threatened the expansion of any new advanced energy development throughout Ohio. That could cost jobs and revenue that help fund our schools and communities.

The setback requirement should be revised to enable energy innovation while respecting property rights.

Jason Slattery

Walbridge

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.